Pope washe inmates’ feet for Holy Week

ROME -- Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen inmates at a prison near Rome in a Holy Thursday ritual that symbolizes humility and service and highlights his papacy's attention to those on society's margins.

pope francis

He arrived in a motorcade that included Italian police cars at the prison in Civitavecchia, a port city 50 miles northwest of Rome. The ritual was closed to the public for security reasons and to protect the privacy of the inmates.

But afterward, the Vatican said the pope performed the foot-washing, following Jesus' example, "in a sign of love inspired by love" aimed at service and humility. The 12 inmates included men and women of various ages and of different nationalities, it said.